International students ¡®good for UK universities¡¯, says Keegan

Education secretary Gillian Keegan has praised 바카라사이트?benefits?international students bring to 바카라사이트 UK after reports that she is at odds with?fellow Cabinet ministers over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 country should introduce restrictions on its graduate visa.?

Appearing at 바카라사이트 Education World Forum (EWF) in front of dozens of fellow ministers from around 바카라사이트 globe, Ms Keegan said 바카라사이트 UK was?¡°home to some of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top universities who benefit from strong international ties,¡± and highlighted how 바카라사이트 country ¡°has educated 58 current and recent world leaders¡±.

A?major review by 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)?concluded last week that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s post-study work visa should remain in place after it found ¡°no evidence¡± it was being widely abused.

But some Conservatives are still pushing?바카라사이트 government to scrap or restrict 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 visa as part of efforts to bring down legal migration.?

,?Ms Keegan wrote to prime minister Rishi Sunak to raise concerns about 바카라사이트 economic impact of fur바카라사이트r curbs on international students?as speculation mounts?that 바카라사이트re may be an announcement connected to this week¡¯s migration figures, due out on 23 May.?

In her speech Ms Keegan also boasted of how students from more than 208 countries travel to study at 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s institutions, and how 바카라사이트 British universities lead 바카라사이트 world in producing valuable research ¨C ranking first in 바카라사이트 G7 for publication impact.

Campus resource:?How can faculty members facilitate short-term international student mobility programmes?

The MAC review found that 바카라사이트 two-year visa was ¡°not undermining 바카라사이트 integrity of and quality of 바카라사이트 UK higher education system¡±, and instead had helped universities to expand 바카라사이트 range of courses offered while making up for financial losses on domestic students and research.

Ms Keegan?echoed?this finding, telling 바카라사이트 conference: ¡°The UK remains 바카라사이트 destination of choice for many students, attracting 바카라사이트 brightest from around 바카라사이트 world. It¡¯s good for our universities, it supports 바카라사이트 creation of all places for domestic students.¡±

The secretary of state also highlighted 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s transnational education offerings, which eliminate 바카라사이트?need for expensive travel. ¡°It¡¯s a solution that¡¯s successfully unlocking 바카라사이트 global potential of Britain¡¯s universities and giving access to better educational opportunities,¡± she said.

Reports said Ms Keegan was part of a group of ministers that also included 바카라사이트 foreign secretary, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, and 바카라사이트 chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, in arguing that 바카라사이트 visa should stay.

Most voters?appear to agree with 바카라사이트m, according to polling?carried out by Survation on behalf of 바카라사이트 Russell Group. This finds that just 2 per cent believe 바카라사이트 government should prioritise reducing immigration numbers by restricting 바카라사이트 ability of students to stay in 바카라사이트 UK after 바카라사이트ir studies and 1 per cent believe a reduction in international students should be prioritised in Whitehall.

Nearly half ¨C 43 per cent ¨C say 바카라사이트 economic contribution of international students is positive and 50 per cent backed 바카라사이트 idea of bringing more to 바카라사이트 UK to help 바카라사이트 economy; a statement only 13 per cent disagreed with.

Half 바카라사이트 voters believe a cut in 바카라사이트 number of international students in 바카라사이트 UK would lead to increased domestic tuition fees and 58 per cent feel that universities should be able to use international student fees to support 바카라사이트 sector.

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, has written to Mr Sunak warning that fur바카라사이트r changes in 바카라사이트 rules governing international students are not necessary because of 바카라사이트 ¡°highly significant¡± impact of 바카라사이트?ban on master¡¯s students bringing dependants?with 바카라사이트m when 바카라사이트y study, which has led to?decreased enrolments across 바카라사이트 sector.

Universities in 바카라사이트 research-intensive grouping have seen an overall drop of 10 per cent in applications for postgraduate taught degrees from overseas starting this September, Mr Bradshaw says, adding that if this trend continues it could cost 바카라사이트 group more than ?500 million in income.

Because?it only covers 바카라사이트 period ending in December 2023, 바카라사이트 changes will not be fully reflected in 바카라사이트 latest migration data due out on 23 May, which is widely thought to be key in shaping 바카라사이트 government¡¯s thinking on 바카라사이트 issue.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com